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买牛卖剑
买牛卖剑
买牛卖剑
买牛卖剑
买牛卖剑
买牛卖剑
买牛卖剑
买牛卖剑

买牛卖剑 — “Buy oxen, sell swords”

买牛卖剑 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to give up a former way of life, especially one associated with conflict or wrongdoing, and adopt a peaceful or upright occupation; to turn over a new leaf and become good”. Literally, “buy oxen, sell swords”.

Frequency

买牛卖剑 Pronunciation and Pinyin

买牛卖剑 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order
CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
买
mǎi6to buy
牛
niú4Ox, awesome, or stubborn
卖
mài8sell, betray, exert, show off
剑
jiàn9ancient long-bladed weapon

Example Sentence with 买牛卖剑

他曾是一名四处游荡的江湖人士,如今已决定买牛卖剑,在家乡开了一家小茶馆,过上了宁静的日子。
He was once a wandering rogue, but now he has decided to buy oxen and sell swords, opening a small teahouse in his hometown and living a peaceful life.

Idioms Related to 买牛卖剑

Synonyms of 买牛卖剑

  • mǎi买niú牛xī息gē戈Lay down arms, live peacefully
  • mài卖jiàn剑mǎi买niú牛abandon fighting for peaceful farming

Antonyms of 买牛卖剑

  • mài卖dú犊mǎi买dāo刀sell ox, buy sword; give up peaceful life for war
  • nán南zhēng征běi北zhàn战campaign and fight battles across the country
  • qióng穷bīng兵dú黩wǔ武exhaust military resources in aggressive warfare

More idioms starting with 买

  • mǎi买shàng上gào告xià下Bribe superiors and influence subordinates
  • mǎi买shàng上zhǔ嘱xià下bribe superiors and solicit subordinates
  • mǎi买dōng东mǎi买xī西go shopping for various items
  • mǎi买mài卖bù不chéng成rén仁yì义zài在Goodwill remains even if business fails
  • mǎi买guān官yù鬻jué爵buy and sell official posts
  • mǎi买dú椟huán还zhū珠value the superficial over the essential
  • mǎi买jué爵fàn贩guān官buy and sell official posts
  • mǎi买lí犁mài卖jiàn剑lay down arms and farm
  • mǎi买dú犊mài卖dāo刀abandon violence for peaceful life
  • mǎi买wáng王dé得yáng羊Aim for superior, get lesser imitation
  • mǎi买tián田yáng阳xiàn羡resign and retire to seclusion

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Questions about 买牛卖剑

What does 买牛卖剑 mean?

买牛卖剑 (mǎi niú mài jiàn) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to give up a former way of life, especially one associated with conflict or wrongdoing, and adopt a peaceful or upright occupation; to turn over a new leaf and become good”.

How do you pronounce 买牛卖剑?

买牛卖剑 is pronounced mǎi niú mài jiàn in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 买牛卖剑 literally mean?

Literally, 买牛卖剑 means “buy oxen, sell swords”. It is used to mean “to give up a former way of life, especially one associated with conflict or wrongdoing, and adopt a peaceful or upright occupation; to turn over a new leaf and become good”.

What is the Chinese definition of 买牛卖剑?

原指放下武器,从事耕种。后比喻改业务农或坏人改恶从善。同“买犁卖剑”。

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